Embedded Files
August 2025
Dear Friend,
Thank you for your support of the Appalachian Men's Ensemble, as we continue to bring our community together through music. Our 2024-2025 season saw a successful collaboration with the MECCA Men on our patriotic concert in November, a warm-hearted reception for our two February concerts, and rollicking end to the season with our pirate-themed concerts in May.
Looking ahead, preparations are underway for our fall concert program, which will include music on the themes of "War and Peace." From songs that celebrate the bravery of those who serve in the armed forces to others that give voice to humanity's cries for peace, this promises to be a moving and solemn program. Highlights include pieces by Veljo Tormis and Samuel Barber as well as Craig Courtney's classic setting of "Make Me an Instrument." Another feature will be the debut of a smaller auditioned group, singing Mitchell Snapp's pop a cappella arrangement of "Travelin' Soldier." Our guest artist for this program will be percussionist Ray McClain, and Steve Sensenig continues as our pianist. Please join us for one of those concerts - on Friday, September 26, at Gray UMC, or Saturday, September 27, at the restored chapel on the VA campus in Johnson City.
Our desire is for the Appalachian Men's Ensemble to continue offering programs and performances like these that contribute to a strong sense of community right here in the Tri-Cities. Perhaps just as important, however, is the camaraderie and connections that are formed during the rehearsal process. Our ensemble welcomes men from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to work together toward a common goal - bringing excellence and musical artistry to the preparation and performance of choral music. Along the way, we encourage our singers to develop their vocal and musical skills and find a sense of belonging and community in our ensemble.
Would you consider a financial gift to help us continue our mission? As a community choir, we rely on the backing of our friends and supporters to help us achieve our goals. Your tax-deductible donation will help us to continue bringing high-quality choral music to communities throughout the Appalachian Highlands and beyond. It will also help us expand our educational outreach programs and inspire the next generation of musicians.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Your support is essential to the continued success of the Appalachian Men's Ensemble, and we are grateful for any amount that you can give. We look forward to sharing our music with you and hope to see you at an upcoming concert.
With gratitude,
Dr. Noah DeLong
Artistic Director, Appalachian Men's Ensemble
Suggested Donation Levels:
Publisher - $75
Do you enjoy the wide and varied repertoire that the Appalachian Men's Ensemble performs? You can help us expand our music library by purchasing a new song for the group. Your gift of $75 will purchase one new copy of music for each person in the choir.
Section Leader - $150
Singing can be a wonderful lifelong activity, and many of our singers got their start in music as a young person. We want to extend membership in the ensemble to interested singers in high school or college, and your gift of $150 will cover the costs for one student to participate for the entire season. That means $300 will sponsor two singers, or...
Soloist - $300
Our concerts often feature additional musicians from the local community who help take our music to the next level. In the past, we have featured vocalists, pianists, organists, violinists, handbell ringers, and even an entire string quartet! Your gift of $300 will cover the cost of a talented guest artist to join us for one of our concert cycles in the coming year.
Composer - $500
Our group loves to perform new music, and we have built relationships with several talented composers and arrangers. We would love to include some new music in our 10th anniversary year that is written specifically for our group and our community. A gift of $500 can bring that dream to life by covering the commissioning fee for a brand new piece of music.
Conductor - $1000
We enjoy presenting concerts to our community - it is the highlight of our year! As you might imagine, though, there are many costs involved in preparing a concert, from purchasing music to personnel to publicity. Your gift of $1000 will underwrite the costs of performing one concert cycle, and will help us continue our tradition of enjoyable and entertaining concerts.
Producer- $2000
As we step into our second decade, we are looking to expand the reach of the Appalachian Men's Ensemble by bringing the gift of music to new areas in our community. There are many possible avenues for us to reach out - including students, the elderly, veterans, incarcerated populations, and more. We would even love to donate the proceeds of one of our concerts to a local charitable organization each year. A gift of $2000 will enable us to broaden the impact we can have in our community by underwriting the costs of a new outreach venture that just might continue for years to come.
Season Sponsor - $5000
Looking back, it is amazing to see how the Appalachian Men's Ensemble has grown over the past 10 years. From a fledgling group of music lovers to a steady presence in our community, you can now count on us to deliver a delightful season of 6-8 performances every year. And we would not be where we are today without the generous support of our community. A donation of $5000 would underwrite the costs of an entire concert season and help build a strong foundation for future music-making in our community. Here's to another great year for the Appalachian Men's Ensemble!
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